Week of: Monday July 1, 2019
Courtesy of:
John H. Keefe III, D.C.
(918) 663-1111
IN THE NEWS: Shrimp contains cocaine, antibiotics and banned pesticides by: Lori Alton, staff writer | June 23, 2019 Shrimp cocktail – featuring ice-cold shrimp, tangy cocktail sauce and a slice of lemon – is a time-honored favorite of seafood lovers. But, new research from the UK shows that shrimp from rivers near London are contaminated with a very different kind of “cocktail” – in this case, a toxic mix of chemicals featuring cocaine, pharmaceutical drugs and dangerous pesticides. The new study, published in Environment International, showcases a dirty – and disturbing – trend in seafood. All over the world, scientists are finding chemical residues in shrimp, fish, mussels and eels – with frightening implications for human and environmental health. To conduct the study, scientists examined a species of local freshwater shrimp (Gammarus pulex) harvested from 15 sites in five different rivers in Suffolk County, a rural area northeast of London. And what they found – traces of 56 different pollutants, toxins and drugs of abuse – was stomach-turning. Shockingly, 100 percent of the shrimp contained trace amounts of cocaine – and this illicit drug accounted for the highest concentration of contaminants in the shrimp. Also found was lidocaine – an anesthetic used by cocaine dealers to “cut” the product and boost profits – and ketamine, a veterinary tranquilizer used recreationally by humans for its psychotropic effects. NOTE: Did you know? The liver is the most important detoxifying organ in the body. When the liver can’t effectively neutralize and dispose of toxins, they accumulate in the body. Ask about a detox program.
WELLNESS: How good oral hygiene helps to avoid a stroke by: Sara Middleton, staff writer | June 24, 2019 Did you realize that epidemiological data indicates a third of Americans never floss? This oral hygiene oversight could be a lot more problematic than you think – especially if you’re concerned about your cardiovascular system. Here’s how: It’s been well-established that proper oral hygiene can reduce your risk for gum disease (gingivitis). It’s also heart healthy, because bacteria in your mouth can leech into your bloodstream via damaged teeth and gums and infect your heart and blood vessels. Now, new research from the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Heart Association sheds a harsh light on exactly this mechanism and the severity of its impact. You may have heard of the “mind-body” connection before. But have you ever heard of the “mind-mouth” connection? Never could this be more true than for people who suffer a stroke, or “brain attack.” Researchers from Tampere University in Finland analyzed the blood clots (thrombi, or the singular thrombus) from acute 75 stroke victims. Nearly 8 out of 10 of these individuals had DNA in their samples that was consistent with oral bacteria, including the common Streptococcus mitis. Amazingly, there was more oral bacteria in the blood clot samples compared to blood taken elsewhere from these patients! Whether this indicates that oral bacteria cause stroke or are simply correlated with it, the overall consensus is clear: Oral bacteria “contribute to the progression and thrombotic events of cerebrovascular diseases.” In other words: not taking care of your oral health through spot-on oral hygiene is giving harmful bacteria a free pass into the rest of your body … where they can cause serious trouble!
CHIROPRACTIC: Surprise: Chiropractors Can Treat These Conditions By David Starr, Contributor Nov. 30, 2015 YOU MIGHT THINK chiropractors are only able to help with back aches, stiff necks, slipped discs and whiplash injuries. If so, you're not alone – but you're missing out. Chiropractic care – which is based on the understanding that, given the opportunity, the mind and body can heal itself – can treat many issues that might surprise you. 1. Migraines and tension headaches Research shows that spinal adjustments – the primary form of care provided by chiropractic doctors – is an effective way to treat tension headaches and headaches that begin in the neck. In a clinical trial conducted at Macquarie University, 72 percent of migraine sufferers experienced either "substantial" or "noticeable" improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment. 2. Stress and anxiety Chiropractors can release muscle tension, one effect of chronic stress that leads to nerve irritation and creates uneven pressures on the body's bony structures, which can cause the spinal column to become misaligned. This, in turn, helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state. Chiropractic adjustments can reduce spinal nerve irritation and improve blood circulation, which can help signal the brain to turn off the "fight or flight" response and begin the healing process. A doctor of chiropractic can suggest nutritional supplements, like B complex vitamins, to help the body cope with stress. A chiropractor can also recommend relaxation techniques and discuss posture and environmental changes to help you recover from chronic stress. 3. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder involving widespread pain and sensitivity throughout the entire musculoskeletal system. To be diagnosed with FM, a patient typically has a minimum of 11 out of 18 specific tender points on the body. In addition to pain, patients also report long-term fatigue and/or disturbed sleep and mood. Other disorders commonly associated with FM include irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ pain and dysfunction, psychological conditions and some autoimmune diseases. In one study, 60 percent of the subjects treated by a chiropractor experienced a significant improvement: reduced pain, improved sleep and decreased fatigue.
FUNNY BONE: During a patient’s two-week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications. “Which one? ” I asked. “The patch. The nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I’m running out of places to put it!” I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn’t see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one. —Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair to Ridiculously Funny Medical Stories@@ I was caring for a woman and asked, “So how’s your breakfast this morning?” “It’s very good, except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can’t seem to get used to the taste,” the patient replied. I then asked to see the jelly and the woman produced a foil packet labeled “KY Jelly.” —Dr. Leonard Kransdorf@@ A woman in Arkansas brought her baby in to see the doctor, and he determined right away the baby had an earache. He wrote a prescription for eardrops. In the directions he wrote, “Put two drops in right ear every four hours” and he abbreviated “right” as an R with a circle around it. Several days passed, and the woman returned with her baby, complaining that the baby still had an earache, and his little behind was getting really greasy with all those drops of oil. The doctor looked at the bottle of eardrops and sure enough, the pharmacist had typed the following instructions on the label: “Put two drops in R ear every four hours.” – From Cafe Mom